Look forward to Sachin working with sports ministry: Jitendra Singh

Sports minister Jitendra Singh on Thursday hoped that senior batsman Sachin Tendulkar will work with his ministry to promote sports in India in the future.

"He is an icon for this country, for the youth of this country. I am also a huge fan myself. We are also planning some sort of an award and felicitation programme for him," Singh said in New Delhi.

"I look forward to Sachin Tendulkar working with the ministry of youth affairs and sports to promote sports in this country. But for that modalities need to be discussed," he said.

Asked if he would be going to Mumbai to watch the veteran play his last international match, Singh said, "I hope so."

The minister, however, insisted that he would not like to term Tendulkar's last Test as a farewell.

"It is a new start for him. He will be able to motivate a lot of young people in this country to come and play, and bring laurels to India," the minister said on the sidelines of a function to felicitate the junior men's hockey team for winning the third Sultan Johar Cup recently.

Tendulkar announced his decision to retire from Test cricket last week after playing his landmark 200th match, which is scheduled to be held in Mumbai against the West Indies.